May 2013 Meeting - Blooming Opuntia! We have a seasonally relevant speaker!
Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 7:13PM The meeting is Sunday, Mother's Day, May 12, at 2:00 pm at the Springs Preserve in the Partnership Room. We have a guest speaker, Dr. Eric Ribbens. A formal abstract is printed below. Don't be intimidated if the text seems a bit sterile. Dr. Ribbens is the author of many publications and articles, even Parent's Magazine. Check out the publications on this website: e-ribbens@wiu.edu This is going to be informative and entertaining with photos of cactus growing in an unfamiliar landscape. While at the Springs, we hope you bring those special people in your circle of friends or family that have or are performing the important "Mother" role. Perhaps you can take them to brunch first, or for a sweet treat after the meeting at the Cafe. Bring your friends and neighbors that have the lovely Opuntia in their landscape or collections. This is perhaps our only opportunity to hear from one of the members of the "Too Cold for Cactus" pros in person!
GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. Eric Ribbens
Biology
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL 61455
TOPIC: Opuntia fragilis
Title: Sometimes I feel like a fatherless child: Opuntia fragilis in the Midwest
Abstract: "Opuntia fragilis, the most cold-hardy of all North American cacti, is widely distributed in western North America, extending east into Ontario in the northern Midwest. I have studied the ecology of Midwestern Opuntia fragilis for 17 years now. I will describe my experiences with Opuntia fragilis, which include building a matrix of pad fates in the Illinois population, documenting a form of self-incompatibility that seems to be preventing sexual reproduction everywhere in the Midwest, and my search for every population of Opuntia fragilis in five Midwestern states. I will share descriptions of its ecology and habitats in the Midwest, the research that we have been and plan to conduct into this species, and some of my experiences along the hunt for this interesting cactus."
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
- Plant of the Month - Opuntia! We'll pick back up on Agaves later. Dr. Ribbens is bringing some pads to swap with a few of us. So, look around your garden and container collection and bring some pads to share with him and the rest of us. The hardier the better! (Anyone got a huge "Dinner Plate" to share that would fill his trunk?)


